Foot actuated vacuum applicator



Aug. 18, 1953 v. c. VALENCIA FOOT ACTUATED VACUUM APPLICATOR Filed March s, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Wzfciar (l Waff/265k,

ATTD RN EYS Aug., 18, 1953 v. c. VALENCIA 2,649,091

FOOT ACTUATED VACUUM APPLICATOR Filed March 8, 1951 3 sheets-sheet 2 ATTD RN EYB Aug. 18, 1953 v. c. VALENCIA 2,649,091

Foo'r ACTUATED VACUUM APPLICATOR Filed Maron s, 1951 s sheets-sheet s 2a, 7 O INVENTOR:

71 @Jafar d Waff/26cm,

ATTDRN EYB EA Patented Aug. 18, 1595-3 NETED STATES ATENT oFFlcE 2 Claims. l

This invention relates to surgical appliances for vacuum actuated testing devices for use in hospitals, laboratories and the like, and in particular a foot actuated vacuum pump in combination with a precipitator and suitable vacuum connections from the precipitator to apply vacuum or suction to different devices for different uses.

The purpose of this invention is to provide means for obtaining vacuum without the use oi mechanical power whereby vacuum may be used in a hospital or laboratory for transferring iiuids from one container to another without subjecting the products to air, for measuring poisonous liquids, for ltering solutions or" biological products, for absorbing liquids from the lungs and other parts of the body and also for drying bleeds, such as on cuts or injuries, andA also for drying pipettes and the like.

Vacuum is not used in numerous instances in hospitals, laboratories, and the like because it is diilicult to sterilize conventional pumping equipment such as is required for obtaining vacuum and also as vacuum equipment of this type is comparatively costly. In numerous instances the use of vacuum would save time and reduce the possibility of infections. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a comparatively small foot actuated vacuum pump positioned in a portable stand and connected to a precipitator from which nozzles or connecting tubes extend.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for forming a portable Vacuum machine or applicator with which vacuum may be provided at different points in a hospital, laboratory or the like, and where use thereof is desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. vacuum applicator that is adapted for universal use in a hospital, laboratory, or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vacuum machine that is mounted in combination with a precipitator on a portable stand and in which the device is provided with a suction nozzle which provides a portable vacuum applicator of a simple and economical construction.

With these yand other objects and advantages in View the invention embodies a vacuum cylinder suspended by a link in a portable housing and having a piston in the cylinder attached to a foot lever, and a precipitator mounted in or on the housing and connected to the cylinder and also having a nozzle extended therefrom.

Other features and advantages of the inven- (Cl. 12S-276) tion will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section through the Vacuum applicator.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device.

Figure 3 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 1 illustrating a modification wherein a precipitator is placed on the housing instead of being mounted in the housing.

Figure 4 is an elevational View looking toward the rear of a precipitator showing a supporting handle extended upwardly from the housing and with the lower part of the housing broken away.

Figure 5 is a detail showing a vertical section through the vacuum cylinder.

Figure 6 is a, detail showing a vertical section through the precipitator.

Figure 7 is a detail illustrating a nozzle, having a check valve therein, that is adapted to be carried on the outer end of a tube extended from the precipitator.

Figure 8 is a detail illustrating an application of the device wherein the vacuum is used for transferring liquid from one container to another without subjecting the liquid to the atmosphere.

Figure 9 is a similar View showing the method of applying vacuum to a part of the human body for withdrawing liquids or the like and wherein the said liquids withdrawn from the body arel collected in a small container.

Figure l0 is a similar view illustrating the use of the vacuum applicator for filtering materials through a funnel, or the like.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the vacuum applicator of this invention includes a Vacuum cylinder Hl, having a piston Il therein with a foot lever l2 that is connected to the piston rod I3 by a link IQ, a precipitator l5, a housing having a base iii with upwardly extended side walls li and i8, end walls I9 and 20 and a cover 2l, and a nozzle 22 that may be attached to a hose 23 extended from a tube 24 which extends downwardly into the precipitator l5.

In the design shown the vacuum cylinder lll is provided with heads 25 and 26 and, as illustrated in Figure l the cylinder is suspended by a bar 2l that is pivotally connected to lugs 28 in the head 25 by pin 29, and the upper end of which is attached to lugs 30 on the under surface of the cover 2l of the housing by a pin 3 l. The head 25 is provided with a valve 32 and a similar valve 33 is provided in the head 26. The head 26 is also provided with a packing gland 34 through. which the piston rod i3 extends. and a flexible sealing element 35 is positioned over the packing gland with the peripheral edge thereof secured to the head 26 by bolts 36 and with a washer 31 in the lower end providing a seal around the lower end of the piston rod I3.

The link I4 is pivotally connected to the lower end of the piston rod I3 by a pin 38 and the lower end thereof is pivotally connected to the lever I2 by a pin 39. The lever I2 is pivotally mounted on a pin d in the housing and the outer end thereof which extends through a slot 4| in the front wall I9 of the housing is provided with a foot treadle 42.

The piston Il, which is cup-shaped is secured between washers i3 and i4 and the washers and pistons are secured against a collar 45 by a lock nut 46. The piston is resiliently urged upward"- ly by a spring 41 that is positioned between the piston and lower end or head 25 of the. cylinder.

The head Z in the lower end ci the cylinder is provided with an outlet nipple d8. in which a tube 4Q is. connected.v byy a clamp 5d and the opposite end of the tube is attached to a stem 5i of a check valve. 5.2 by a similar clamp 53. rThe valve 52 is provided with an inlet connection 5d that extends through the cover 2| of the housing providing an outlet connection to the atmosphere.

The head 25 of the cylinder is provided with an inlet nipple 55 and the nipple 55 is connected by a tube 55. to a nipple 5.1 extended from a control valve 58. The tube 5B is connected to the nipple 55 by a clamp 59- and the opposite end is connected to the nipple 5-1 by a clampr Sil. The control valve 53 iS. suspended from the cover 2i by a hanger 5| and a knob 62 inthe upper end of; a stern 53;, which, extends from the valve 58 through the cover 2| isprovided with a pointer 6d that. positionedto coact with a graduated valve. 5E; on the upper surface of the. cover.

The control valve 53. is connected by a tube E6 with a tting Si and a check` valve t@ on the fittingv t1 connected to the precipitator l5 through. a tube da which extends through fittings iii-- and; 'll and nipples 'i2 and it through the interior of the. precipitator.

The precipitata-.or |51 is carried in a bracket having a base- Ul with a lower arm 'E5 and an upper erin 15, and, as illustrated in Figure 6. a cover plate il is.- olamped between a rim. 18, on the upper edge of the' precipitator. andthe upper arm. 16 oi the bracket by an adjusting screw TB. that is threaded through the lower arni of the bracket and that is provided with an arcuate washer. Sii. which is positioned to receive the lower end of; the precipitator. The, adjusting screw. la; is provided; with a. handle 8| with a lock nut 32 thereon which secures the screw in the desired adjusted positions.

The nipple "i3 extends through the arm 16 and plates 11 and issecured in position, providing a sealed connection,v by iock nuts 83 and 8d.

The precipitator is also provided` with an inlet it that aiso extends through the plate 11 and arm l5 and the tube 85 is secured in position by lock nuts and iii. The tube 35. is connected tothe vacuum tube or pipe 2li on the outer end of which the tube 2S is positioned.

rBhe device is providedy withA a norzley or connector 22. which is formed with a tubular casing having a partitionA d@ 'that is provided with an opening 8f3 and that' is positioned to coact with the.v disc. provide a. check valve. in. the nozzie. The disc, du is resiliently heid against the valve. seat or partition by a spring 91| and thespringis. heldfby a bushing. 9.2 that is threaded in the end of the tube and that is pro-J vided with an extended nipple 93 over which the hose or tube 23 is placed. The tube 22 is also provided with a bushing 94 that is threaded in the opposite end of the casing and the bushing .9d is provided with a nipple on which a coupling sleeve 96 which is formed of rubber or other suitable material is positioned. A pipette or the like may be held in the bushing tti, as indicated by the numeral el and it will be understood that a connector or attaching device may be provided for connecting the vacuum or suction hose or tube to a pipette, surgical needle, or other device or the coupling member or tube may be used as illustrated in Figures 8, 9 and 10 by placing the tube over a nipple dit of a container or bottle, as indicated by the numeral 9B. In the application illustrated in Figure 8 the container $19v is connected to a container IBB by a tube Il and nipples |82 and |63 extended from the end of the tube extended through corks or the like as indicated by the numerals Idd and H35 whereby with the lower end of the nipple m3 extends into the solution in the container idd the solution is drawn by vacuum through the tube 23 into the container 9. The container iii@ is provided with an inlet connection or nipple H35.

A similar container |81, as illustrated in Figure 9 may be provided with a tube il@ that extended from the end of the nipple lll which extends through a cork H2, and with the tube 23 positioned on a nipple I it the tube l il) may be used to draw plasma and the like into the container Idd, or with the parts arranged in this manner the device may be used for drawing liquid from the iungs. abdomen, or other parts, or may be Y used to clean an operation area or withdraw gynecclogical secretion.

With the parts arranged as illustrated in Figure l0 vacuum may be used for accelerating lterinT solutions whereby with the tube 23 connected to a nipple IM on the container l i5 a funnel l5 may be positioned in a stopper or plug H1. With a lter paper disc positionedv in the funnel H5 the products may be iiltered with the vacuum drawing the solution through the filter element.

With the parts as illustrated in Figure l, the pumps, precipitator and associated parts are located within the housing and the precipitator is mounted on a partition Ile.

The housing is mounted on caster rollers ||9 and the ends are provided with handles |20 and I2I.

ln the design illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 a vacuum punip I 22, similar to the pump i0 is positioned in a housing |23 and a precipitator i2d, similar to the precipitator i5 is positioned above the housing with the precipitator mounted in the bracket ld and with the racket supported on a panel |25.

In this design the cylinder |22 is actuated by a lever |21 and the discharge end is connected by a tube |28 to the upper part of the panel |26 through Vacheck valve I 29. The upper end oi the cylinder |22 is connected byv a tube i3@ to a control valve 13| and the control valve is actuated by a head |32. The control valve is connected by a tube |33 to a check valve I 34 and the check valve is connected by a tube |35 to the. interior of the. precipitator |24 as shown in Figure 4^. A tube S25y extends from the precipitator and a hose V'|226 which` is extended from the end |21v of the tube |25,'ext'ends to provide a connection'throughzwhich they vacuum may be applied to a container, such as illustrated in Figures 8, 9 and 10, or to other suitable devices.

With the parts arranged in this manner the nozzle is held in one hand and by holding the end of the nipple or a tube or pipette thereon over a cut or the like blood flowing therefrom is readily dried, or liquid may be absorbed from parts of the body or from instruments such as pipettes, test tubes, bottles and the like to facilitate drying. With the nozzle held in the hand a thumb or linger may be placed over an opening |36 therein whereby the Vacuum may readily be controlled.

By this means a portable Vacuum applicator is provided for hospital and laboratory use and by this means poisonous liquids that would injure an operator should the fumes be inhaled, may be measured or the Vacuum may be used to dry pipettes, without the need of alcohol or the like. The vacuum may also be used to filter solutions for biological products with the vacuum drawing the solutions through the lter.

The vacuum of this device may also be used to dispense plasma and the like, in a vacuum whereby the parts remain sterilized, or the vacuum may be used to absorb liquid from the lungs, abdomen, or other parts of the body, or it may be used to clean the operation area or remove gynecological secretion.

The device is readily actuated by foot power by which the desired vacuum may be pumped and retained in the precipitator which will render the solids in the air or solution passing therethrough insoluble or separate such solids from the air or solution passing therethrough, and from the precipitator the vacuum may be applied to the above and other uses.

It will be understood that other modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable Vacuum applicator comprising a housing mounted on wheels, a vacuum cylinder mounted in housing and having a piston rod extended therefrom, a foot actuated lever pivotally mounted in the housing and connected to the said piston rod, a precipita-tor, a bracket in which the precipitator is mounted, means mounting the bracket with the precipitator therein in the housing, a tube connecting the suction side of the cylinder to the outlet of the precpitator, a tube extended from the inlet of the precipitator through the housing, a control valve in the tube extended from the cylinder to the precipitator and check valves in the said tubes.

2. A portable vacuum applicator comprising a housing mounted on wheels, a vacuum cylinder mounted in said housing and having a piston rod extended therefrom, a foot actuated lever pivotally mounted in the housing and connected to the said piston rod, a precipitator, a bracket in which the precipitator is mounted, means mounting the bracket with the preeipitator therein in the housing, a tube connecting the suction side of the cylinder to the outlet of the precipitator, a tube extended from the inlet of of the precipitator through the housing, a control Valve in the tube extended from the cylinder to the precipitator, check valves in the said connections, and a nozzle having a check valve therein, in the tube extended from the housing.

VICTOR CORNELIO VALENCIA.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 320,363 Judge June 16, 1885 536,858 Donato Apr. 2, 1895 975,435 Kotten Nov. 15, 1910 2,074,787 Herbst Mar. 23, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 355.544 France Nov. 6, 1905 

